Iran, facing possible United Nations' sanctions over its nuclear program, plans to boost rice purchases from Thailand in a sign that it may be preparing to withstand international efforts to isolate it.

Iranian officials have been in talks with several Thai exporters to buy between 300,000 tons and 400,000 tons of rice, Chookiat Ophaswongse, president of Thai Rice Exporters' Association said in an interview today. Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter.

The Iranian talks are ``probably caused by concern over trade sanctions,'' Chookiat said by telephone. ``Orders from Iran are unusual because the country has bought a very small quantity of rice from Thailand'' in the past.

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency told the Security Council April 28 that Iran had successfully enriched uranium and was stonewalling inspectors' efforts to determine whether the program is intended for the production of nuclear weapons. The assessment sets the stage for the Security Council to consider imposing sanctions on Iran, a step sought by President George W. Bush's administration.